Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-05-11
TIE TRUTnrUL PIONEER BOY,

al Nearly sixty years ago a gaul
awkward boy of sixteen looked liz
: the open door of small log cabin
Z the outer edge of one of our weste
!. frontiers, and pleasantly inquired, -
II ANY chores you wish don
z mother? l came home early on pu
! Ipose this evening, for want to beg
] that job at chopping tomorrow, and
shall want to get On early start"
"YOu are good son, Abra'm,
think of me-" replied the woman
proudly, turning at the sound of b
Ivoice.
II am sure l know of no one VIII
has better right to be in m
Thoughts, the boy returned.
| The woman smiled upon him pleas
antly, and handed him couple G
buckets, saying
"lf you are mind to give me
lit, you may fill the tubs with waite
from the spring, 40 Tomorrow will b.
washing day; and then, If you would
Just see where the COW has strayed ant
bring her In and milk her, am sure
would be greatly Obliged"
III have her pailed in good time,
mother; never fear. Come, Sallie,
and ride down to the spring." he con.
tinued, perching his little seven year
old step-sister on his broad shoulders.
am persuaded that very few of nv
young readers ever looked upon such
an ungainly specimen of humanity as
was this tall, awkward prairie boy
who went striding to the spring, chat
tering merrily with his little sister,
who declared that he was far better
than real brothers, who were always
teasing their sisters.
l am sure the tired woman who
watched him from the cabin door
thought him very beautiful in spite of
his homely features and uncouth ways.
Come, Sallie," called her mother,
Just as the little girl mounted her
brothers. shoulders for fire ride
through the tall grass in search or the
cow.
The child, not wishing to be cheated
out of her sport, showed no disposition
TO obey, until her brother placed her
on the ground, saying:
"Mothcr called, Sallie. Run and see
what she wants"
The little girl hung her head, but
obeyed her brother without question
ny.
God bless the boy! He could not
DC any better to me If he were my
>wD. l do not know how can get
llong without himp
without him? l don't know as
you need worry about that, mother"
.eplied the husband. "Abra'm will
lot leave us for many day"
Il hope he will think it best to make
ais home with us; but, take my word
or it, that boy will not be shut in by !
lewn logs much longer. You will be
'roud of him yet, father"
III am no ways ashamed of him
low, 'the old man replied. "Mayhap
he will make place tor himself in the /
world yet, for he takes to book larnin'
ike fish to water"
You will hear from him il you live
Dng enough, father, never fear," the
woman responded, with an emphatic
od of the head.
Long before the sun was up the bow
ad completed his work in and around
ne cabin. Sallie was anxious to 20
nth him to the woods, but her mother
Injected, and he set out alone. With
is axe slung over his shoulder he
lade long strides over the trodden
ath, whistling merrily as he went.
When over n mile from home he
as startled by little figure SPRING
lg from wayside thicket with, ~
eat you, Abra'm!' But the laugh ,
as changed into q piteous cry, for
he litia girl had struck the axe and !
1t deep cash just above her ankle. I
"Sallle, how came you here, when r
other told you to remain at homer" I
quired her brother, as he tried to :
OPP the flow OF blood by applying !
antain leaves. After he had partially +,
lcceeded he tore half the sleeve from
e coarse white shirt he wore and T
Indaged the injured limb as gently =
her mother could have done.
"There, now, sis, tell me how you =
It here"
Then the girl told how she had cut i
ross lots in order TO Brighten him.
"You frightened yourself much y
orse than you did me-" he said with f
smile; "but the saddest thing about I
is that you disobcyed mother" II
"You won't tell, Abra'm?" sobbed n
C child. q
mo; you must tell her all about it y
urself, Sallie. Tell the truth, no II
alter what happens" he said us he
ted her in his great, strong arms and
llked rapidly toward home. Placing
r on the doorstep, he whispered,
Now hop in and tell the truth. Bet y
be whipped than tell lie. Now ~
od-by; l must be of, for The morn. n
: is running to waste" n
Sallie did tell the truth, and received 81
r mothers forgiveness; nor did she
er forget the two lessons those of m
edience and truthfulness-that her "
other taught hef that bright morn p
s. ~
| need not tell you that honest Alb ~
ham Lincoln preserved his truthful
SIS and integrity even In the most n
ing hours of our country's existence, &c
: boy with his sterling principles al
~ always be relied upon. Always p'
| the truth, no matter VIII at may u
ppen.